Brits have a knack as hacks. And they're exporting that know-how to the U.S. in waves.

Few things epitomize it more than the Stateside success of so-called lads' mags such as FHM and Maxim. It seems that a staple diet of girls, jokes, girls, cars, girls, and music sells men's mags by the bucketload, whichever country you're in.

While Arena, Esquire, and GQ summed up the big-spending, big-watch-wearing Ô80s, the likes of loaded lowered the tone and ...